SPE 030793

6iiMii m

Soobty-of Petrolem Engheere

Reservoir Performance History Matching Using Rate/Cumulative Type-Curves

J.G. Canard’, SPE, Louisiana State U., and P.A. Schenewerk’”, SPE, Louisiana State U.

‘Now at U. of Tulss Reservoir extent, continuity, and flow capacity are paramount
‘“Nw at U. of Mis.souri-Rolls
characteristics that are considered when developing models.
LXpyright 1S9S, society of Petroleum Enginsers that predict reservoir performance while using alternative
This psper w prepared for presentation in the SPE Annual Technical Conference & depletion strategies, such as during fluid-injection projects or
Exhibition held in Oalias, U. S.A., 22-25 October, 1SS5. enhanced recovery.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committes following review of Reservoir producing conditions to which this technique can
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, ss be readily applied are those whose actual bottom-ho!e
presented, havs not besn reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Enginsers and are subject to
correction by the author(s). The material, ss presentsd, doss not neceassrily reflect any flowing pressure (BHFP) closely approximates a constant
pos~ion of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Pqxms presented at value. Most wells, however, produce with variable BHFP.
SPE meetings are subjact to publication review by Eddorial Commitaas of the Society of
Petroleum Engineers. Permissmn to copy is restricted to an sbstrsct of not more than 200 The work presented here focuses on an alternative rate-
words. Illustrations may not bs copied. The abstract should contsin conspicuous ac.knc+vhdg cumulative type-curve format whereby variable BHFP is
ment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. Box 2328SS, . 1.,–– .- —L-:—:—
—L-.L .L-
Richardson. TX 75083-3836, U. S.A.. fas 01-214-952-94S5 incorporateci into &lmensioniess varlames comammg oum uw
production rate and the cumulative production providing a
Abstract unified approach that can be applied to any reasonable
This paper presents an analysis technique for characterizing variability in the producing rate or flowing pressure history.
reservoirs from production performance. Unique to this The proposed method, with application to single phase and
technique is the incorporation of the instantaneous bottom- multiphase flow, provides the practicing engineer a better
hole flowing pressure (BHFP) to both the production rate method for decline curve analysis and therefore propagates
and to the cumulative production for a well depleting a better reservoir characterization from production data.
reservoir. This allows a single rate/cumulative analysis for
wells producing with constant BHFP, constant rate, and wells Pressure Normalization
with variable rate or variable BHFP (includlng wells with One advancement in decline-curve analysis presented here
shutins). This solution provides a powerful diagnostic type- inciudes pressure normalization of cumulative production.
curve which can be generated with almost any wellbore/res- Like pressure normalization of production rate, variations in
ervoir situation encountered. Extension of the method to gas bottom-hole flowing pressure (BHFP) are accounted for by
reservoirs through use of pseudopressure and viscosity- dividing cumulative production by the pressure difference
compressibility normalization allows these wells to be between initial and bottom-hole flowing pressures. The
analyzed using the slightly-compressible fluid solution. Well technique of combining pressure-normalized production rate
performance during transient flow and depletion flow are (PNR) and pressure-normalized cumulative production
examined. Simulation results are compared with the analytic (PNC) is an improvement over rate normalization alone in
solution. The use of spreadsheets to perform well test the analysis of reservoirs based on production data.
analysis is also demonstrated. To apply this technique, determination of BHFP from
surface-measured flowing-tubing pressure (FTP) is required
Introduction along with determination of the original static reservoir
Recently, decline-curve analysis has expanded to permit pressure. Data can then be presented by plotting PNR versus
engineers to analyze a petroleum reservoir directly in regard PNC. This technique is then extended for use with gas
to its fluid-flow characteristics and its volumetric extent using reservoirs by further incorporating changes in viscosity and
rate-time type-curves of the constant terminal pressure compressibility during reservoir depletion.
soiution of the ilffusivity equation. Tiiis anaiysis is of This technique relies heavily on either measured BHFP or
enormous value to reservoir managers whose goal is to lTP. However, unlike with superposition techniques, it does
maximize oil and gas production from a petroleum reservoir. refit w~~II;r- the entire flndssu nreccnre
.~= . WY-. v . ..-- . . ...” -------- ~. -w--- -
h~~~~~~ f~~ ~ Weiij

947
2 RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE HISTORY MATCHING USING RATE/CUMULATIVE TYPE-CURVES SPE 030793

thus allowing for greater application to situations found in re

~cD _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3)
the industry. The incorporation of PNR and PNC into dec- ~
line-curve analysis provides a single-performance curve which wa

is applicable to wells producing at constant BHFP, to wells

producing at constant rate, and to wells with both varying Where the external radius is re (ft) and the apparent
wellbore radius is rw (ft). Apparent wellbore radius is a
rate and varying flowing pressure.
The benefit of a single-performance type-curve is its measure of effectiveness and is related to the actual wellbore
usefulness as a diagnostic tool. Identification of flow regimes, radius, rW(ft) by
geological heterogeneities or boundaries, and interference
from offset production or injection make it the ideal plot for r Mu = rw, exp (-s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4)
advanced decline-curve analysis. Although radial flow in
unbounded and bounded reservoirs are presented here, the Use of the apparent wellbore radius and the van Everd-
:__Sl
m~GII ..1,:..,rO,.,,.- :“ Gullrxam
shm kautul, S, m ..fi”cto”* p-#.ace,,*a
u-u, w t,ms —m,,
?-l,n.,ar;-
same diagnostic type-curve can be used ti[ii type-curves Lyp,W–UU.
. w . U. S-
generated for other common wellbore and reservoir condi- ables was investigated by Uraite and Raghavan- to allow for
tions, such as hydraulically fractured wel~ naturally frac- near wellbore damage ( +s) or improvement (-s).
tured reservoirs, dual-porosity systems, water-drive reser- Dimensionless flow rate, qD, and dimensionless cumulative
voirs, and other systems with pressure support at the outer production, QD, are related using
boundary.
.An advan[age of using Ci!hcr rate.!irn-e Qr ra[c-ctunu!afive ~
decline-curve analysis is that reservoir size, formation ““””” . (5)
I
QD . qDdtD ”----””””””””””””””””””
capacity, and wellbore effectiveness can be determined
without either closing in the well or running costly instru-
ments down the wellbore. This capability is greatly extended Where dimensionless cumulative production, QD, is defined
by the use of rate-cumulative analysis because pressure by
normalization of cumulative production allows for variable
BHFP in the producing well.
QD . 0.8936QB
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6)
Definitions 4JK?;.(R%+
Dimensionless variables are used as they provide a general
solution to any number of specific problems. Actual rate and And Q is the cumulative production (STB).
time can be calculated from dimensionless rate and time for Tsarevich and Kuranovq (1966) are credited with being the
n“., .nn,.:c..
aJJy OPVUJWC.=* fir .a.,a*,m:.
-w UI 1*OVS -0.-...
vuu pm -+,?...
CUUGLGI ,.,.-.m:maA In
a wlmanl=u :.. *ha
LIIG fk.t
,s. 0. tn
.“
nhcanw=
““o”. . “
that
. ..-.
~~~ hnlmAaru.dnmin~td
““- . . ..-. , ..” . . . ...-.”-
~~!~ ~~~

dimensionless variables. The single-phase dimensionless rate,
q~, is defined (in field units) as
141.2qBp
qD = . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...(1)
kh(Pi-Pwf) ““““
Where q is the production rate (STB/d), B is the formation
volume factor (rb/STB), p is the fluid viscosity (cp), k is the
permeability (red), his the formation height (ft), Pi and Pti
are the initial reservoir pressure and the wellbore flowing
pressure (psia) respectively. Dimensionless time, t~, is
defined ax
exponential in the rate decline, giving credence to the semi-
log decline-curve plot used by industry for decades. This
discovery allowed a much simpler analytic expression for
flow rate during the boundary-dominated flow period. The
exponential decline equation using dimensionless variables
normaliid by area and geometry is:
qdD ‘exp(-tdD) . . ..-. o ----------- ‘--..0----(7)
These variables have an additional lower case “d”for decline-
curve and are more convenient for type-curve presentation
during boundary-dominated flow. Decline-curve dimension-
less time, rate, and cumulative become:

tD =
.006328M
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) tD
Ovc?:a =—. . . . . . . . .OOOoo. . ...””” ““””””” “ . . (8)
‘dD (a13)
The additional terms used in this expression are t for time
l..J-....\
(uays), @ fGi pilidy (fF~&d), ~ k tk kjd SySklii
q~~ =J3qD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...(9)
Compressibility (psi-l), and rm is the apparent wellbore
radius (ft). The dimensionless external radlu~ re~ is defined QdD _ QD
~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (lo)
ax
SPE 030793 J.G. CALLARD AND P.A. SCHENEWERK 3

Table 1- Area and Geometry Normalizing Factors for Type-Curves

Normalizing Circular
Factors Circular &&!Q Lw!M!!

a (reD2 - 1)/2 reD2/2 A/(21rrw2)

B ln(reD)-+ +ln 2.24?

C*r,#@

Where the area and geometry normalizing factors for late the transition from infinite-actimz to boundary-dominat-
circular reservoirs are defined by ed flow periods as a function of dimensionle& external
radius and also state that for all dimensionless external
radius the transition can be approximated by a dimensionless
‘eD2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11)
a=— time based on drainage area of 0.1. Were this dimensionless
2 time is defined ax

J3=ln(reD)-* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (12) ~
. . (13)
‘DA =tD2jL” ””””””””””””””’””” ““”””””””
when reD >30

For non-circular reservoirs the Dietz Shape factor4, Ca, is
included. Definitions in the general case and for circular
reservoirs with r=n < 30 are given by Chen and Poston5 in
Table 1. ‘-
Eqs. 11 and 12 can be obtained from the General column
by substitution of appropriate definitions of area and value
for Dietz Shape factor for circular reservoirs.
Bounded Reservoirs: Rate-Cumulative Type-CurveS
The alternative constant pressure type-curve for flow rate
data is the rate-cumulative type-curve shown in Fig. 2. Rate-
cumuiative type-curves tili be shown to offer a enormous
advantage over rate-time type-curves because they are
equally applicable for constant pressure performance as well
as variable pressure performance.

I
3’,

i
.-J—<,
I

ma i
&ml 0$01 Onl al
QTIIl

Fig. 1- Rate-Time Decline Type-Curve (RTDTC) (after Fetkovich* and Fig. 2- Rate-Cumulative Oaotine Type-Curve (RCDTC)
Ehlig-Economides and Ramey7)

For wells that are produced at constant back-pressure, rate

Rate-time type-curves based on decline-curve dimension- versus cumulative data can be plotted and matched just as
less variables are shown in Fig. 1. Fetkovich6 and Ehlig- they would be using the rate versus time data. Wells that
.____ :A_- __A n-__..7 l_____
EwmJImum iinu Kdmcy
_,__ ______ ._> _,_,,__ cf______
niivc iusu prfsxxrwu slmnar ngurtss. have variabie flowing pressure histories, including shut-in
In Fig. 1 the unbounded curves converge and at that inflec- periods, can plotted using PNR and PNC. This data plotting
tion, boundary-dominated data becomes concave to the technique greatly extends the use of type-curves for most of
origin. Uraite and Raghavan2 provide expressions to calcu- the conditions encountered in the field.

949
 SPE 030793
4 RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE HISTORY MATCHING USING RATE/CUMULATIVE TYPE-CURVES

To examine the abtlity to predict flow rates as function of dimensionless rate or reciprocal dimensionless pressure over
dimensionless cumulative production, the exponential decline the dimensionless time period displayed.
Secondly, while dimensionless rate and dimensionless
equation:
reciprocal pressure diverge at the end of the infinite-acting
sexp(-fdD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (14) period (inflection from convex to concave) on the RTDTC,
!?dD(fdD)
they continue to track during the boundary-dominated
portion on the RCDTC.
iscomblned with the cumulative-time relationship:

_ew(-fdD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..(15)
f&)(t~D)
=1 10
1 Mi ‘1

which yields
relationship:
the boundary-dominated rate-cumulative
a ‘:
k ~’.,
‘1
;;:.%%0
reD = 1128

,
,/ ‘

t ‘. reD = 1000
. \
10,000
_QdD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W)
qdD(QdD)= 1
ii 0.,

Eq. 16 infers that thedlmensionless rate during the bound- ‘37,

ary-dominated flow period is a function of dimensionless

cumulative and is not dependent on the pressure and rate 0.01, am1 0.08 0,s
,-. ,!!7: 10
Mm
hktory. To illustrate this point with a variable BHFP case, W
the constant rate solution is presented on both the constant
pressure rate-time decline type-curve (RTDTC) and the
constant pressure rate-cumulative decline type-curve (RC-
Fig. 4- RCDTC: Constant Rate/Constant Pressure Comparison
DTC). In order to make this comparison, decline-curve
dimensionless pressure is defined as:
Type-Curve Matching Techniques
pfi (17)
Reservoir parameters such as permeability, apparent
*dD= T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (1!)
wellbore radks, and drainage area are determined conven-
tionally, using rate-time type-curves and the graphkal
technique of plotting rate-time field data on tracing paper
Dimensionless tabular data from Earlougher et al.8 for a well
with a log-log scale equivalent to the scale used for the type-
in the center of a closed square with an equivalent dlmen-
~ion!e~~e~-~rnal radhls of IIM is shown in F@. 3 and 4. curve. The field data are aligned keeping the grids parallel
to the type-curve and a match point is seiected. ‘The match
-_:-. --- L.-...-., . ..-...*.-*-,-9-
pulm call UC Cllly p“,,lt L“,,,,,.”,.
tn
.“
hnth mnnhc and rnntaks
““... &..=... . . ..- ----------

an ordinate and abscissa for both curves. This method is

outlined by Earlougher 4. For RCDTC matching field data
are plotted as PNR vs PNC. The match point from the
pressure normalized field data and the RCDTC are selected
as above.
Solving for the drainage area or external radius, freed by
the shift in horizontal axes (using eqs. 6, 10, & 11):

5.615B (Q/A~)M z
\i A=— >fl ................”..(18)
00:.
O.Cal O.vol 0.01 0,3 1 10
@~lc, (QdD)M
WI
This can be rearranged to solve for the pore volume> Vp:

=b.
r my.n
.J -- nTnTP. . . .. . . .. .❑..-4a
“ .“. ”. PAW.*-A .. .lPAne**&
. . .. . . .. Dra-nma Cmmnarisan -- = ~ (Q/A~)M ., (10)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~-.,
r
. ------- --. --r------- -, Jmf......
‘P
Cr (QdD) M
F@. 3 and 4 reveal two very important properties. First,
infinite-acting data lying on the dimensionless external radius Eq. 18 can also be used to determine the external drainage
of 1000 branch fits either type-curve equally well. This is due radlux
in part to the logarithmic approximation being valid for

950
SPE 030793 J.G. CALIARD AND P.A. SCHENEWERK 5

a suitable match of the data and the type-curve are made.

‘e =
J$fi ”””””””””’”””””””””””””””””””@’) One specific advantage of this technique is the match
between the field data and the analytic solution can be
displayed on one graph. Dimensionless rate and cumulative
To calculate permeability and skh, enough early time data production data during the infinite-acting period used in Fig.
must be available to determine a dimensionless external 2 obtained from Ehlig-Economides9 can alternative
radius. Selecting a dimensionless external radius combined obtained by combining van Everdingen and Hurst J,:
with the effective external radius calculated from the area Sengulll. With infinite-acting dimensionless rate and cumula-
(eq. 18) provides the apparent wellbore radius. Rearrange- tive tabular dat~ branches for specific dimensionless external
ment of eq. 3 radks can be generated using eqs. 8 through 12. The
exponential solution, Eq. 7, can be used to generate bound-
ary-dominated data after a tDA >0.1.
‘e
r wa =—. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (21)
‘eD Application to Gas Reservoirs
Two major assumptions, constant fluid compressibility and
Allows skb to be calculated using rearrangement of eq. 4.
constant fluid viscosity, inherent to the development of the
An assumption of reservoir geometry is not required to liquid solution require additional handling for the prediction
solve for reservoir size or skin effect because the reservoir of flow rates and pressures for gas reservoirs. In 1%7 Al-
shape factor is not involved. To determine permeabMy, an
Hussainy et al. 12 defined gas pseudopressure as
assumed geometry (usually radial) is used to calculate B (eq.
12 or Table 1- General). No signiihnt difference occurs p
selecting among other symmetrical drainage patterns such as
P* = Z &p . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (23)
a well in the center of a square.
The vertical axes alignment along with a calculated or ( pz
approximated value of fi is used to determine permeability
Where the compressibility factor, z, and the viscosity, p (cp),
are pressure dependent functions.
~ _ 14123UJ3 @?/Ap)M Gas pseudopressure represents the potential difference or
. . ,md . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (22)
11 @dD)M driving force of fluid flow in the reservoir. Substitution of
pseudopressure in dimensionless rate results in the following
definition for gas reservoirs
Rate-Cunmlative data Dimensionless Ad c
h
— Olatiw
u n 1422qOT feA\

D F%mneter
mock
%)= ‘a
k#(pPi-pPwf)
““”” ”””” ”””” ”””” ”””” ”””” (L+)

Where q is the gas production rate (MCF/d), T is tempera-

L constant pressure do not follow the exponential decline
Fig. 5- Sohemetic of Spread-sheet ueed for Type-Curve
Another technique, promoted here, is to obtain perfor-
mance history matches in a computer spread-sheet. Incor-
porating the elements of Fig. 2 with the field data and a
parameter block, containing all reservoir parameters used in
the dlmensiordess variables, can be utiliied to non-dimen-
sionalize the field data and compare it to the dimensionless
liquid solution. Fig. 5 shows the spread-sheet schematically.
External radius, permeability and skin can be adjusted until
ture ~R ! and k is the permeabtity to gas (red). Decline-
curve dlmenslo“1$ ess rate can be obtained by eq. 9.
By replacing pressure with pseudopressure, drawdowns of
gas reservoirs during the infinite-acting time period can be
analyzed using semilog and type-curve matchktg techniques.
During boundary-dominated flow, gas wells producing at
predicted by the liquid solution. This was demonstrated in
Matohing 1985 by C~er13, who presented a family of type curves
correlated by a parameter describing the severity of the
dra.+JdoW~;the geater tht= t+mwthun
-“ .-. .....-., . . ..$ the
---- lar~e~
.- ~- ~h~ detia-
tion from the liquid solution for gas reservoirs producing
under the condition of constant BHFP.
To account for the changes in viscosity and compressibility
in dimensionless time, Fraim and Wattenbarger14 in 1987 in-
troduced a normaliid time function that drew together the
family of curves presented by Carter 13 into a single curve,
the liquid solution.

951
6 RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE HISTORY MATCHING USING RATE/CUMUb4TlVE TYPE-CURVES SPE 030793

Viscosity-Compressibility normtilzed time is defined as:

‘@cf)idQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(27)
‘OQdf. .. .. ... Q.(U -c) = —
fn(p -c) = —
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (25) I Pcl
[ WI
A derivation for normalized cumulative paralleling that of
In eq. 25 viscosity and compressibility are evaluated at normalized time by Fraim and Wattenbarger14 can be found
average reservoir pressure. Dimensionless normalized in reference 15 and results in the definition of viscosity-com-
decline-curve dimensionless time becomes pressibility normalized decline-curve cumulative:

“~s~gfn(lf -c)
9.WQn(U.c)T ..
t~~ = . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (26) Q@ = . . . . . . . . . . . . . (28)
@(Pc~)i ~toaan 2 (Ppl.-PPWf)a
~]~(~cl) i ‘Wa

Fu. 6 presents simulator generated production versus both The additional subscript “(p-c)” in the variables defined in
dimensionless time and versus dimensionless normalized eqs. 25 and 27 indicate Viscosity-compressibility normaliza-
time for “Case 1 - Circular reservoir” from Fraim and tion.
Wattenbarger 14. This technique involves successive approxi- Handling viscosity and compressibility in the cumulative
mations of gas in place (GIP) using the gas material balance, term also provides a simpler computation method for
to interrelate average pressure through cumulative produc- normalization since fractional recovery, Q/GIp and p/z are
tion to time. The method of computation for normalized linearly related by the material balance equation:
time requires a summation of time steps that is sensitive to
step size.
. . . . . (29)
0

The integration in Eq. 27 can then be evaluated at intervals

of P/z as shown in Fig. 7.

A..\\i\\\%.[z
. Gas’ gr’atity
= 0.601

‘ \.
~

— ‘.
0.01 j
:
lquid sdutii 1,. . h 0.5
‘. .; ~
i
I
1.
4.
n.k . 104
OdOJ& , , ,i h ,

0.3 p
Ml 0.1 1 10
tdo
02
\\ ‘“’
.. .. ;01
0.1
\ ,
j,, ,,, ,,, .\,
Fig. 6- RTDTC: Gas Well with Constant BHFP (after Fraim and o +0
o 0.1 0.2 41 0.4 4.6 0,8 0? 08 0.$ 1
Wattenbsrger’4) Q/GIP or (1-(P/z)/(P/zh)
,

Normalized Cumulative. Fig. 7 - Viscosity-Compreasibiiity Produet Rstio and Fn Versus

The constant rate/constant pressure identity revealed in Raoovery
Fig. 4 suggest that it would be desirable to handle pressure
dependent viscosity and compressibility in the dimensionless
Also shown in Fig 7 is the ratio of normalized cumulative
cumulative term. Using this technique, gas wells with
production to actual cumulative production, or the viscosity-
variable rate and variable flowing pressure could be plotted
ctxnpressib]iity normalizing factor F-,.. ..:
n~~-cj
as pseudopressure normalized production rate (PPNR) and
. . . ..Aa...,a.....-a
y.=uuup, maul
..a.-.. nA-nAcumumuvc
G IIUI UICIWXU
“..-..1 -*:.... p---4.. -.:-- [r
UUUCUUII /DmNTm\
r INU~
on the RCDTC. This was investigated and found to be Qn(u -c) (30)
‘n(fl -c) =— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

effective. Viscosit y-compressibility normalization of cumula- Q

952
SPE 030793 J.G. CALLARD AND P.A. SCHENEWERK 7

The normalizing factor (upper curve) and the viscosity-
compressibdity product ratio (lower curve) are shown versus
fractional recovery for the fluid properties associated with
“Case 1 - Circular reservoir”. Also shown as solid triangles
along the lower curve are viscosity-compressibility product
ratio data from Fraim and Wattenbarger 14. Techniques for
calculating viscosity and compressibility are developed in
Reference 15. Normalized cumulative production of field
data can then obtained by rearrangement of eq. 30:
limited amount of flowing pressure data available and
because the drawdown is variable in pressure and variable in
rate. Table 2 presents reservoir and production data.
The numerically simulated data was generated for a well in
the center of a square. The data plot for this is presented in
Fig. 9 showing PPNR versus PPNC. The immediate observa-
tion is that all data is concave to the origin indicating
boundary-dominated data and therefore the RCDTC can be
used.

Qn(fl-c) =~,,(u-c) Q”””””””””-”””-”-” .“--””” (31) Table 2- Reservoir and Production Data for Garb
“Case 1“
Therefore, cumulative production combined with a choice of
GIP yields fraction recovery. And fractional recovery yields Permeability to gas
-.. —
0.3 md
the viscosity-compressibility normalization factor by numeri- UP 4.0s BCF
Height 80 ft
cal integration of gas fluid properties.
Temperature 636 “R
Rate data from Fig. 6 was used with cumulative production Porosity 10 %
obtained by re-simulating Fraim and Wattenbarger14 “Case Gas gravity 0.7
1 - Circular reservoir” using a personal computer (PC) Gas Saturation 75 %
version of Boast II lb and is presented on the RCDTC show Initial Pressure 2500 psia

in Fig. 8.
Year Rate Cumulative BHFP PP
Ww * JwU!2E!
10~—–——-—–———-
o 0 0 2500 .4767 + E9
1 Im 365 1604 .2108+E9
2 10C4) 730 1361 .1538+E9
3 800 1022 1352 .1519+E9
4 800 1314 1153 .1116+E9
5 600 1533 1216 .1238+E9
6 m 1752 1071 .9762 + E8
7 400 1898 1197 .1200+E9
8 4002044 1107 .1032+E9

.4
UJ{!W-, –---r-, ~~lTmJ--Y ,,lr, -

Fig. 8- RCDTC: Gas Well With Constant BHFP

Two distinct advantages of using the RCDTC have now

been demonstrated. Most importantly, constant pressure and
constant rate solutions are identical, providing the basis for
variable pressure variable rate analysis using PNR and PNC
for single phase liquid flow and PPNR and PPNC for single
phase gas flow. Secondly, for gas reservoirs, accounting for
viscosity-compressibility normalization in the dimensionless Id
cumulative term gives unique results without regard to step- MOOl 0.001
—T——r- y

Q/(m-m’n MrFhi--%
size of the field data and normalizes singie phase gas fiow to
the liquid solution. Both of these advantages will be demon-
Fig. 9- oats Plot for Garb ~.’7 Case 1.
strated in the following application.

Example Application: Gas Well The cumulative normalization factor was determined as a
Data for this example comes from Garb et al. 17, and also function of gas fluid properties similar to Fig. 7 and a
Rodgers et al. 18. This e~mple was selected because of the polynomial curve fit of the factor as a function of fractional

953
8 Reservoir PERFORMANCE HISTORY MATCHING USINGRATE/CUMUUTIVE WPE-CURVES SPE
‘- 030793

recovery was generated: ty normalized cumulative using the rate-cumulative type-

curve or semilog techniques. Boundary-dominated data,
concave to the origin, can be analyzed with the RCDTC
Fn(ll-c) = a (Fig. 2) using viscosity-compressibility normalized cumula-
+’[%J+’[&+’[& / F””’32’
/
tive. Fermeabdity and skin can be determined from a match
With a = 0.990 of the infinite-acting data and Area (or GIP) can be deter-
b = -0.579 mined from boundary-dominated data. A flow chart for this
C = 0.358 procedure is presented in Fig. 11.
d = -0.238
“ Compik hit.ml Completion Data
Known permeability, GIP, and apparent wellbore radius G+mlate BtIfT’s
------ :--..4 :...
WG1 G Illpul
- .LZ,-n . allluLU
111LU L1lG pal
. . . .. . kl-,-~
u,uem
.,,;* ;“ tk- o=.
w,. !’. . . . .Hw
crm=arl.chw=t
wau o..””.
Generate PM Pro@.v Tab!+
Poiymxniai iltt RR Fp id rhiiti-t)

resulting in the match shown in Fig. 10, ~

\
Cimwt

Pklt Pm
Bate and

w PPNC
Fhsrum Ma to PF?W and PPN(

Mennine If Bxmdarv
DOnun.9kl
: -> ,
(-
J

+
No Yes
MA from Garb’sMe 1

‘:-----’’-~””
+ %
i i
c“ 5,
%“
. b
\,
0.1;
J Detennme
pe&eatility’ and dim L _——’
,

Ftg. 11- Flow Chart for Gas Well Analysis

. I
0.0 :r
I
01 10 Conclusions
Qdn
Use of the liquid solution constant pressure rate-cumula-
tive decline type-curve (RCDTC) can be extended to single-
Fig. 10- RCDTC: Gas Well with Variable BHFP phase flow of compressible gases via the use of the viscosity-
compressibility normalization factor and gas pseudopressure.
The data show excellent agreement with the liquid solution Like gas pseudopressure, the viscosity-compressibility
constant pressure RCDTC demonstrating the ability to normalization factor can be determined from fluid properties
handle the variable BHFP case for gas reservoirs. alone.
Because of the independence in step size of time intervals
Type-Curve Matching Techniques: Gas Wells in the determination of the viscosity-compressibility normal-
Two preparation steps are required to analyze field decline- ization factor, use of the RCDTC is superior to use of the
curves for gas wells. First, calculation of BHFP from lTP rate-time decline type-curve (RTDTC) even for wells
must be performed for all data. This can be done most producing at constant BHFP.
efficiently in a programming language and the results
imported to a spread-sheet that contain the rate and cumula- Nomenclature
tive data as described in Fig. 5. A= area (sq ft)
The second step is to, again, use a program to calculate BHFP= bottom-hole flowing pressure (psi) same as P~
compressibility factors, compressibility, and viscosity for the B= formation volume factor (rb/STB)
gas gravity and temperature of the reservoir. Integrations can Bbl= barrel (5.615 ft3)
be performed in the program to obtain gas pseudopressure CA= Dietz shape factor
and viscosity compressibility normalizing factor. polynomial et= system total compressibility (psi-l)
tits, such as the one presented in the example application for FTP= flowing tubing pressure (psia)
the normalizing factor, can also be made for gas pseudopres- F n(p-c) = viscosity-compressibility normalizing factor
sure as a function of BHFP. The coefficients for these two ‘n(m-c = mobility-compressibility normalizing factor
fits can then be incorporated into the spread-sheet. Gd= gas in place (Mcf)
A data plot of PPNR versus PPNC is then made and flow h= formation thickness (ft)
periods present are determined. Infinite-acting data, convex k= permeability (red)
to the origin, can be analyzed without viscosity-compressiblli- kg= permeability to gas (red)

954
SPE 030793 J.G. CALIARD AND P.A. SCHENEWERK 9

PNR = pressure normalized production rate (STB/d/psi) the Production Capacity of a Well,” Trans. AIME (1953)
PNC= pressure normalized cumulative production 198, 171-176.
(STB/psi) 2 Uraite, A.A. and Raghavan, R.: “Unsteady Flow to a
PPNR = pseudopressure normalized rate Well Producing at a Constant Pressure,’’.lPT (Oct. 1980)
PPNC= pseudopressure normalized cumulative 1803-12.
pD . dimensionless pressure 3 Tsarevich, K.A. and Kuranov, I.F.: “Calculation of the
pdt) = decline-curve dimensionless pressure Flow Rates for the Center Well in a Circular Reservoir
gas pseudopressure (psiz/cp) under Elastic Condhions,” Problents of Reservoir Hydro-
}: initial pressure (psia) dynamics, Part Z, Leningrad (1956) 9-34.
Pp;= initial pseudopressure (psi2/cp) 4 Eadougher, R.C. Jr.: Advances in Wel[ Test Analysis,
P*= flowing bottom-hole pressure (psia) Henry L. Doherty Series, SPE, Richardson, TX (1977)
Ppd= flowing bottom-hole pseudopressure (psi2/cp) 5.
q= flow rate (STB/d) 5 Chen, H.Y. and Poston, S.W.: “Application of a Pseudo-
9g= gas flow rate (MCF/d) time Function To Permit Better Decline-Curve Analy-
qD . dimensionless flow rate sis,” SPEFE (Sep 1989) 421-428.
qdD = decline-curve dimensionless flow rate 6 Fetkovich, M.J.,: “Decline Curve Analysis Using Type
Q= cumulative production (STB for oil, MCF for gas) Curves,” JPT (June 1980) 1065-77.
Qn(u.c)= viscosity-compressibility normalized cumulative 7 Ehlig-Economides, C.A. and Ramey, H.J. Jr.: ‘Transient
production (MCF) Rate Decline Analysis for Wells Produced at Constant
~QD : dimensionless cumulative production Pressure,” SPEJ (Feb 1981) 98-104.
=Ctil
~~~!~~~-rllweAim
--- . - ~A... en.innlec.c,,m,,l
”..”. ”... w,”uu ... -.=..nti.,~p~~~~~f~~fi
. “ 8 &li~Uuh~r.
0----, R
-----C .Tr
. . .. Rame.v
-._--. -J, H
---- .1 Jr
-.., Miller
. .. ... . . . .F .-.,
C, and
----
RCDTC= rate-cumulative decline type-curve Mueller, T.D.: “Pressure Distributions in Rectangular
RTDTC= rate-time decline type-curve Reservoirs,” JPT (Feb. 1%8) 199-208.
rw= wellbore radius (ft) 9 Ehlig-Economides, C.A.: “Well Analysis for Wells
rm = apparent wellbore radius (ft) Produced at a Constant Pressure,” PhD dissertation,
re= external radius (ft) Stanford U., Stanford, CA (June 1979).
reD= dimensionless external radius 10 van Everdingen, A.F. and Hurst, W.: ‘The Application
s= dimensionless skin of the Laplace Transformation to Flow Problems in
STB = stock tank barrel (5.615 ft3) Reservoirs,” Trans., AIME (1949) 186,305-324.
T= reservoir temperature ~R) 11 Sengul, M.M.: “Analysis of Step-Pressure Tests,” paper
t= time, days SPE 12175 presented at the 1983 Annual Technical
*n(u-c) = viscosity-compressibility normalized time (days) Conference and Exhibition, San Francisco, Oct. 5-8.
tD = dimensionless time 12 A1-Hussainy, R., Ramey, H.J., Jr., and Crawford, P.B.:
fDA = ml-- n---- –L-n –-1 n----
HOW 01 Keal Uases
ml-.-..–]- m– --- n. .>.. “ rr,w
I nrougn rorus Meala, Jr f
ciimensioniess time based on drainage area I m

tdD= decline-curve dimensionless time (May 1966) 637-64% Trans., AIME, 237.
Vp= pore volume (Bbl) 13 Carter, R. D.: “Type Curves for Finite Radial and Linear
z= gas compressibility factor (dimensionless) Gas-Flow Systems Constant-Terminal-Pressure Case,”
SPEI (Ott 1985) 719-28.
Greek 14 Fraim, M.L. and Wattenbarger, R.A.: “Gas Reservoir
a= decline-curve normalizing factor Decline-Curve Analysis Using Type Curves with Real
13= decline-curve normaltilng factor Gas Pseudopressure and Normalized Time,” SPEFE
@= porosity (fraction) (Dee 1987) 671-682.
p. fluid viscosity (cp) 15 Canard, J.G.: “Reservoir Performance History Matching
Using Type-Curves,” PhD Dissertation, Louisiana State
Subscripts U., Baton Rouge, LA (1994).
M= match point in type-curve matching 16 Stapp, L.G. and Allison, E.C.: “Handbook for Personal
Computer Version of Boast II: A Three-Dimensional,
Acknowledgments Three-Phase Black Oil Applied Simulation Tool,” U.S.
The author recognizes the Department of Energy grant Department of Energy Bartlesville Project Office,
SBIR/DOE DE-FG05-90ER80976 and the Society of Bartlesville, Ok. (Jan. 1989).
Petroleum Engineers for financial contributions. 17 Garb, F.A., Rodgers, J.S., and Prasad, R.K.: “13nd Gas
In-Place from Shut-In or Flowing Pressures,” Oil& Gas
References J. (July 1973) 58-64.
1 van Everdingen, A.F.:” The Skin Effect and Its Influence

955
 .

10 RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE HISTORY MATCHING USING RATE/CUMULATIVE TYPE-CURVES SPE 030793

18 Rodgers, J.S., Iloykin, R.S., and Cobie, L.E.: T?onstatic

Pressure History Analyses for Gas Reservoirs,” SPEY
(April 1983) 209-18.

S1 Metric Conversion Factors

bbl x 1.599873 E-01 = m3
Cpx 1.0 E-03 = Pas
CU ft x 2.831685 E-02 = m3
ft x 3.048” E-01 =m
md x 9.869233 E-04 = pmz
psi x 6.894757 EOO =kPa
‘R X 5/9 = ‘K

‘G3nvaraion factor is exact,

956